A Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldier from the 32nd âRed Arrowâ Infantry Brigade Combat Team stands watch at a security perimeter near the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. Wednesday. More than 550 Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers and Airmen deployed to the National Capital Region to support safety and security efforts during the 59th Presidential inauguration. Courtesy of the Wisconsin National Guard
WASHINGTON â The Wisconsin National Guard reported that 550 of its troops were among the about 25,000 military personnel who were on the ground to support Wednesdayâs inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, amid threats of violence following the Jan. 6 deadly mob action at the U.S. Capitol.
Andrea Palm
MADISON, Wis. (AP) Everyone over age 65 in Wisconsin will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting Monday but it could take a couple of months to inoculate the entire group of 700,000 people, state health officials said.
The department cautioned that the speed of vaccinations depends on how much vaccine the federal government sends. Wisconsin receives about 70,000 doses of first-dose vaccine each week; at that pace, it could take two months to vaccinate the next group.
“That’s going to pose a real scale-up challenge to those of us administering the vaccine,” said Dr. John Raymond, head of the Medical College of Wisconsin.
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Local and tribal health departments are getting more funding from the state to help with COVID-19 vaccinations.
Governors Evers and the Department of Health Services announced the funding last week.
The $86 million is being divided among Wisconsin’s local and tribal health departments.
DHS Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said the funds are meant to help with cost of coordinating and administering COVID-19 vaccines as well as keep up with COVID-19 testing and contact tracing.
“Just like our healthcare partners, our public health partners have been and continue to be on the frontlines doing lifesaving work and this funding will help make it possible for that work to continue,” said Willems Van Dijk.